Students return to damaged Mintonye School

Students at Mintonye Elementary head to a classroom on the first day back at the school for students and teachers Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back.(Photo: By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier)Buy Photo

Many area students headed back to school this week, but few were likely as ecstatic as the youths who streamed through the doors of Mintonye Elementary.

"That's my school! I get to learn in it again!" exclaimed fourth-grader Aubrey Clevenger as a stream of students and parents toting backpacks and school supplies scurried inside for their first look around.

Wednesday was the first day back at the school since last November 17, when a powerful tornado tore off the building's roof and smashed much of the interior. While the school was being repaired, students and teachers were relocated to First Assembly Community Ministries and Wea Ridge Middle School.

"There are probably no other students as excited to be back at school than the Mintonye Pioneers," said Sue Scott, coordinator of communications for Tippecanoe School Corp. "One teacher told me if she could hug a building, she would."

Fourth-grade teacher Sandy Fountain started the first day with a video that showed students photos of damage from the tornado and the renovation process. Many students said they had seen images on the news or had driven past the school while it was under construction.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Buy Photo

Mintonye Elementary students Carter Norsworthy, left, Jacob Newman and James Hunt talks outside during their first day back at the school Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

As work continues on Southwestern Middle School, students from Mintonye Elementary play during recess on their first day back at the school Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

A sign at one of the classrooms at Mintonye Elementary on the first day back to the school for students and teachers Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

Students and staff were excited to be back at Mintonye Elementary Wednesday, August 13, 2014, at the school near Romney. A tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, and students were taught at First Assembly Community Ministries. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

The Mintonye Elementary mascot welcomes students on their first day back at the school Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

Angie Smith cleans a countertop in the cafeteria at Mintonye Elementary on the first day back at the school Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

Students at Mintonye Elementary head to a classroom on the first day back at the school for students and teachers Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

Students at Mintonye Elementary head to a classroom on the first day back at the school for students and teachers Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

Students from Mintonye Elementary play during recess on their first day back at the school Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

Students from Mintonye Elementary play during recess on their first day back at the school Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

Students at Mintonye Elementary head to a classroom on the first day back at the school for students and teachers Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

Mangled playground equipment sits on a drive at Mintonye Elementary on the first day back at the school for students and teachers Wednesday, August 13, 2014, near Romney. After a tornado struck the school on Nov. 17, 2013, students and staff were excited to be back. By Michael Heinz/Journal & Courier

Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:

Eight months of repairs and construction transformed the building into something that Fountain called "magical." Clean floorsc and new carpeting and windows made even older areas of the school look brand new.

"It was like the first time walking into Disney World," she said. "Every time you look someplace, there was something new."

While students took their seats at Mintonye, students from Southwestern Middle School, which was also heavily damaged by last November's tornado, started their first day in classrooms at Wea Ridge. Plans for repairs and renovations were announced at a July board meeting and this week, TSC asked the county for help to obtain money to speed up repairs to the school.

CLOSE

Security footage of the Tornado striking Southwestern Middle School

Southwestern students are not expected to return to the building until sometime in 2015.